Yesterday was the first time Sprout's not cried because of fireworks. Last Halloween & at New Years he was completely terrified of them.

First time I tried making chocolate covered caramels. (will not be my last... mmm...)

I made it to the 9am Saturday deep water aquafit class at the pool for the first time. Been intending to do that for, oh, about SIX MONTHS.

This year will be the first Hallowe'en that Sprout can actually walk--last year he was only crawling, so trick-or-treating didn't really work.

This week is the first week I've actually used data on my phone--had a data block & only used wifi for the past year & a half that I've had a smartphone.

Saturday night was the first Halloween party I didn't plan my costume ahead at all. I normally think about it well in advance because I love dressing up, but this year, I just... didn't. I pulled my witch hat out & wore black. Pretty pleased with the costume I whipped up for Oli though: made an apple with two yogurt lids & two sharpies, clipped it to his bowler hat & dressed him in a shirt, tie & trench. Voila: 'Son of Man', by Rene Magritte.

Why Monday lists? Reading the lovely Chloe's blog, Tea Swamp Park, I found an idea I had to 'steal': a list of all her Halloween costumes, with quite a few photos. She got the idea from Hula Seventy's List Project. I've decided to do the weekly lists for a year that Hula Seventy is doing.

Tea
Swamp Park & Hula Seventy are not the only ones doing lists,
however. Click on the Listicles badge to the left to check out NorthWestMommy's list & 'assignment' for next week.

To be honest, I probably would have started with Instagram earlier, had I had a different phone. My LG Shine was a year & a half old--apparently ancient & completely obsolete nowadays--so wasn't able to run Instagram on it. Then a Samsung Galaxy fell in my lap, so to speak, & the world of Instagram was opened up to me!

I'm looking forward to Hallowe'en--especially since we don't have to worry about him being utterly petrified if someone lights off fireworks in the neighbourhood. Last year we had to literally run him home, because he got so scared.

Yup--awesome concert. I understand why he's been so popular for so long. Loved the name of the concert tour too--Beluga Grads. It was aimed at all of us who grew up listening to his music & are now parents. :)

I have to give credit to Google for this one--I searched for costumes with a bowler because we'd been trying to think of something using my husband's hat. I found pictures of that painting & realized that my husband had all the clothing already. Easy peasy.

Firsts are so much fun - how nice to have so many recent ones! P.S. Some of us who've been on Instagram forever still don't know how it works as a social media/networking tool or why, so you're sure to pass us up soon. :)

Oli's costume is AWESOME! And your Halloween is going to be great with a walker.

And I have a confession, I'm still not on Instagram. I had it on my phone, but there was a problem, had to delete it, and now I can't download it again. I'm taking it as a sign that I don't need more social media in my life. :)

I was previously of the Traditionalist Camp when it came to Hallowe'en costumes. I had to do something creepy or scary, but after whipping up Oli's this year, I'm very tempted to try another artist next year. :)

Raffi was great! Though, to be honest, I think kids shows are better in smaller &/or outdoor venues--the Orpheum is huge. I think the Vancouver shows both sold out, plus the proceeds went to Raffi's Centre for Child Honouring, so it made sense to have it at such a big venue. :) http://www.childhonouring.org/

I think it's perfectly reasonable to wear a winter coat for years. I haven't bought a new winter coat in I forget how long. My old one was not only too long, but getting pretty threadbare, so it was time. :)